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Council of the District of Columbia
Committee on Public Works & Operations
BRIANNE K. NADEAU, CHAIRPERSON
TO: Nyasha Howard, Secretary of the Council
FROM: Councilmember Brianne Nadeau
Chairperson, Committee on Public Works & Operations
DATE: March 13, 2025
SUBJECT: Report on Committee Action: Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle
Investigation Reauthorization Resolution of 2025
Pursuant to Council Rule 601(b)1, the Committee on Public Works & Operations has
adopted the “Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle Investigation Reauthorization
Resolution of 2025” authorizing the use of subpoenas in furtherance of an investigation
conducted by the Committee on Public Works & Operations.
On January 28, 2025, the Committee on Public Works & Operations met to consider
the “Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle Investigation Reauthorization Resolution of
2025” The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. After ascertaining a quorum consisting
of Councilmembers Robert C. White, Sr. and Janeese Lewis George, Chairperson Nadeau
gave a brief description the resolution.
Chairperson Nadeau then moved for approval of the resolution; the Committee voted
3-0 to approve the resolution, with the members voting as follows:
YES: Nadeau, R. White, Lewis George
NO:
PRESENT:
The meeting adjourned at 10:12 a.m.
To ensure a complete legislative record, the “Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle
Investigation Authorization Resolution of 2024”, adopted by the Committee on September
25, 2024, is attached in addition to the resolution approved at the Committee’s January 28,
2025 meeting.
1 “In order to use subpoenas to obtain testimony or documents, a standing committee, an ad hoc committee, or, if authorized by
the resolution establishing it, a special committee, shall adopt a resolution of the committee authorizing an investigation. This
resolution shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary.”
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ATTACHMENTS
A. Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle Investigation Authorization Resolution of
2025
B. Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle Investigation Reauthorization Resolution of
2024
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_____________________________
Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
A RESOLUTION
_________________________
IN THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND OPERATIONS
_________________________
To authorize an investigation by the Committee on Public Works and Operations into the 1
unauthorized private for-hire-vehicle operations of Yazam, Inc., d/b/a Empower, in the 2
District of Columbia. 3
4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND OPERATIONS, 5
That this resolution may be cited as the “Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle Investigation 6
Reauthorization Resolution of 2025”. 7
Sec. 2. Findings. 8
(a) The Committee on Public Works & Operations finds that: 9
(1) The unauthorized operation of Yazam, Inc., d/b/a Empower, a company that 10
operates a mobile device application (“app”) offering private for-hire vehicle services in the 11
District, constitutes a potentially imminent threat to the safety and security of residents and 12
visitors in the District, and warrants an investigation led by the Chairperson of the Committee on 13
Public Works and Operations (“the Committee”). 14
(2) Empower is not authorized to operate in the District, nor are the drivers who 15
use their app. Empower has not registered as a private vehicle-for-hire company with the 16
Department of For-Hire Vehicles and is not in compliance – or has not shown proof of 17
compliance – with numerous laws and regulations to which private vehicle-for-hire companies 18
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are subject, including those covering consumer protection, discrimination, safety inspections, 19
data disclosure, background checks, and insurance coverage. 20
(3) The Department of For-Hire Vehicles issued two cease-and-desist orders and a 21
compliance order requiring Empower to remedy its violation of the law and agency regulations 22
before April 4, 2024. The company has yet to comply with any order or pay the fines issued for 23
ongoing violations. 24
(4) The Committee has received reports of health and safety risks posed by 25
operators using the Empower app, including reports of stalking, harassment, and impaired 26
driving. Because of Empower’s unauthorized status, there is currently no way for the Committee 27
or the public to understand the frequency of these problems, how many instances are reported, 28
and whether drivers who engaged in these activities are still permitted to use the platform. 29
(5) Additionally, Empower’s failure to comply with laws pertaining to insurance 30
requirements for private for-hire-vehicle companies may expose riders to considerable financial 31
risk in case of injury. 32
(b) Pursuant to Rule 601(b) of the Rules of Organization and Procedure for the Council 33
of the District of Columbia, Council Period 26, the Committee authorizes the continuation of the 34
investigation begun in Council Period 25, in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. 35
(c) The scope of the investigation authorized by subsection (b) of this section shall be: 36
(1) To investigate the extent of violations of District laws and regulations 37
governing private for-hire vehicles due to Empower’s continued unauthorized operations and the 38
resulting lack of oversight; 39
(2) To ascertain the total amount owed to the District by Empower resulting from 40
unpaid taxes, civil penalties, and other fees; 41
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(3) To determine the impact of Empower’s continued operations on riders, 42
operators, and the for-hire vehicle industry in the District as a whole; 43
(4) To consider whether updates to District laws are needed to ensure the 44
protection of riders; and 45
(5) To assess effective enforcement mechanisms to prevent future unauthorized 46
entry into the private for-hire-vehicle market. 47
(d) Pursuant to Council Rule 601, the Committee authorizes the use of subpoenas in 48
furtherance of the investigation authorized by subsection (c) of this section to compel the 49
attendance of witnesses, to obtain testimony, or to produce documents or other information or 50
tangible items. 51
(e) In conducting the investigation, the Committee may take testimony of witnesses by 52
oral, written, or videotaped depositions. 53
Sec. 3. Effective date. 54
This resolution shall take effect immediately. 55
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_____________________________
Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
_________________________
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_________________________
To authorize an investigation by the Committee on Public Works & Operations into the 1
unauthorized private for-hire-vehicle operations of Yazam, Inc., d/b/a Empower, in the 2
District of Columbia. 3
4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 5
act may be cited as the “Unauthorized Private For-Hire Vehicle Investigation Authorization 6
Resolution of 2024”. 7
Sec. 2. Findings. 8
(a) The Committee on Public Works & Operations finds that: 9
(1) The unauthorized operation of Yazam, Inc., d/b/a Empower, an app offering 10
private for-hire vehicle services in the District, constitutes a potentially imminent threat to the 11
safety and security of residents and visitors in the District, and warrants an investigation led by 12
the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Works and Operations (“the Committee”). 13
(2) Empower is not authorized to operate in the District, nor are the drivers who 14
use their app. Empower has not registered as a private vehicle-for-hire company with 15
Department of For-Hire Vehicles and is not in compliance – or has not shown proof of 16
compliance – with numerous laws and regulations to which such companies are subject, 17
including those covering consumer protection, discrimination, safety inspections, data disclosure, 18
background checks, and insurance coverage. 19
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(3) The Department of For-Hire Vehicles issued two cease-and-desist orders and a 20
compliance order requiring Empower to remedy violations before April 4, 2024. The company 21
has yet to comply with any order or pay any fines issued for ongoing violations. 22
(4) The Committee has received reports of health and safety risks posed by 23
operators using the Empower app, including reports of stalking, harassment, and impaired 24
driving. Because of Empower’s unauthorized status, there is currently no way for the Committee 25
or the public to understand the frequency of these problems, how many instances are reported, 26
and whether drivers who engaged in these activities are still permitted to use the platform. 27
(5) Additionally, Empower’s failure to comply with laws pertaining to insurance 28
requirements for private for-hire-vehicle companies may expose riders to considerable financial 29
risk in case of injury. 30
(b) Pursuant to Rule 601(b) of the Rules of Organization and Procedure for the Council 31
of the District of Columbia, Council Period 25, the Committee authorizes an investigation in 32
accordance with subsection (c) of this section. 33
(c) The scope of the investigation authorized by subsection (b) of this section shall be: 34
(1) To investigate the extent of violations of District laws and regulations 35
governing private for-hire vehicles due to Empower’s continued unauthorized operations and the 36
resulting lack of oversight; 37
(2) To ascertain the total amount owed to the District by Empower resulting from 38
unpaid taxes, civil penalties, and other fees; 39
(3) To determine the impact of Empower’s continued operations on riders, 40
operators, and the for-hire vehicle industry in the District as a whole; 41
(4) To consider whether updates to District law are needed to ensure the 42
protection of riders; and, 43
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(5) To assess effective enforcement mechanisms to prevent future unauthorized 44
entry into the private for-hire-vehicle market. 45
(d) Pursuant to Rule 601, the Committee authorizes the use of subpoenas in in 46
furtherance of the investigation authorized by subsection (b) of this section to compel the 47
attendance of witnesses, to obtain testimony, or to produce documents or other information or 48
tangible items. 49
(e) In conducting the investigation, the Committee may take testimony of witnesses by 50
oral, written, or videotaped depositions. 51
Sec. 3. Effective date. 52
This act shall take effect immediately. 53